Week 4

During this week I spent time gathering further references for my interior technical drawing and model based on the location I had chosen, which was the ‘Zenana Mahal’ in the ‘Amer Fort’. This was truly a picturesque spot attracting visitors and locals for the natural light that seeped in through the ‘jaali’ which is a Hindi word for the term ‘stone screen’ that held these intricate carvings or lattice work.

Zenana Mahal

With these references I looked at other window screens to observe the patterns and shapes that were mostly taken from Medieval style Cathedrals and the reason for this design element to be similar in both cultures and time periods can be drawn from the fact it is considered holy by both.

stone screen medieval patterns

persian stone screens

The stone jaalis seen in Rajasthan are geometrical by design with an interconnecting line running through its framework, leaving small gaps in between for viewing to conceal the person within which went well with the concept of secrecy in Othello.

sandstone texture of patterns

warmer toned sandstone reflected in the sun

The textures based on the common materials used in the architecture of these windows was that of sandstone and marble, that was hard and cold to the touch but occasionally appeared bathed in warm tones during daylight.

Location adaptation

For this part of the submission as my exterior concept artwork I chose a location from personal experience, that I had visited a year ago when I was in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. This is a long narrow street known as ‘Patwon ki Haveli’ that meant ‘Palace of Merchants’ and was just that. It was a row of countless intricate mansions that lined the streets one after each other covered in old carvings and jharokhas, which were the balconies facing the outside above each entrance. There is a palace museum in one of the havelis (mansions) where artwork is kept from that time period.

Patwon Ki Haveli, 2021

The most striking element for this location I found was the breath-taking scale of it all and the sun kissed light, that draped the architecture in gold hues exemplifying the yellow sandstone material of the structures. The pictures here are taken from my visit there and I absolutely loved the way it was wrapped in culture, with local people flooding the streets by adding another layer of character to the already rich setting.